MVU Online Learning Symposium

Pew Internet is one of my favorite resources for understanding the accelerating change we're living in the midst of right now. It is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit "fact tank" that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. They produce a bunch of excellent (and free, I might add) reports exploring the impact of the internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life.

While there just now, I came across this Networked Learners page and saw that Lee Raine, Pew Internet director, is one of two keynote speakers at an upcoming symposium I've never attended. It looks very interesting and, for the first time this year, is being offered with an online attendance option.

In his opening keynote, “Networked Learners,” Lee Rainie will discuss the latest findings of the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project about how teenagers and young adults have embraced technology of all kinds — including broadband, cell phones, gaming devices and MP3 players. He will describe how technology has affected the way “digital natives” search for, gather and act on information.

The 2009 symposium is being offered in a Web-accessible format for those who cannot attend in person. Online attendees will see, via Mediasite simulcast (Sonic Foundry's technology), keynotes, the closing panel discussion and three breakout sessions.

The site outlines the essence of the symposium:

The 2009 MVU Online Learning Symposium will explore how young people are using new media and communication tools to build social networks, create content and learn from their peers. This new environment has significant implications for learning and teaching, and it creates new challenges for students, parents, educators and policy makers.

The conference agenda will provide perspectives on education in the digital age, who today's students are, what they are doing online, the growing disconnect between in-school and out-of-school activities, and the changing roles of young people and adults.

Time allowing, I'll try to attend and report back, but if you have $50 and an interest in what students are up to online, you'll be up-to-speed after you attend this symposium, of that I have no doubt.